Kansas St. Takes Down No. 2 Hawkeyes

Turnovers really hurt Iowa the 1st half...if KState hadn't missed an amazing # of bunnies at the rim, the Hawks could easily have trailed 5-10pts at halftime.
With Gustafson and Cizano gone, this team will rely even more on 3s than previous teams -- which is saying something. Live by the 3, die by the 3.
The Wildcats were simply the better team last night:
* they had the better Center;
* they played better defense;
* they ran their offense better than the Hawks;
* they executed during crunch time at the end of the game; and
* their coach outcoached Bluder...by a wide margin.
Seeing Clark struggle all game, Bluder should have used her timeouts when KState had cut the lead to 1 pt during the past couple minutes of the game -- instead she let Clark just free-lance in consecutive possessions, which resulted in 2-3 terrible shot choices...and the game. Clark is great, but she's human and has off-nights. Bluder got outcoached at the end of that game -- badly.
 
K State 6'6" center picked up two very quick fouls and sat for a short while. Neither O'Grady nor Goodman tried to challenge her when they got the ball, to force her to either back off while they scored, or to pick up more fouls on her. A 3rd early foul could have changed the tenor of the game. Czinano would have had a field day--but she's gone, and until O'Grady and Goodman improve vastly on offense, the Hawks will have to find other ways to score. Other teams are going to make the lack of an offensive minded 5 a real problem for the Hawks.

When Clark is having an off night, and neither Marshall or Martin are contributing on offense, it might have been worth a try to play Taylor McCabe--the sharp shooting guard from NE, at least a few minutes to see if she can provide a spark. Or get Kylie Feuerbach at least a few shots to see if either of them can generate the missing outside shooting.

Concur with Grady--we were outcoached at crunch time. Love Coach Bluder and the incredible team unity she and her staff have created, but late in the 4th qtr the Hawks on offense looked like a junior high team, with everyone standing and watching the best player trying to be the whole offense. (It is understandable that the unanimous POY is relied upon heavily--no question--but team play in the last three minutes just didn't exist.)

Last season included a loss to this same team, and last year's team did okay the rest of the way. :)
But with the Law Firm of Czinano and Clark dissolved, expect more nights where teams with top level 5's, and a defense that can stymy the national POY to occur, make getting the W problematic.

Hopefully the Hawks chalk this one up to experience, learn a lot from it, and bounce back. The Bulldogs come to town on Sunday, fresh off taking down the Clowns, and the Hawks pay a visit to those very same Clowns, with their own massive force at the 5, on 12/6.
 
Martin and Marshall combined for 2 points last night.

It wasn't just them, but your sixth-year senior starters need to be better than that.
 
K State 6'6" center picked up two very quick fouls and sat for a short while. Neither O'Grady nor Goodman tried to challenge her when they got the ball, to force her to either back off while they scored, or to pick up more fouls on her. A 3rd early foul could have changed the tenor of the game. Czinano would have had a field day--but she's gone, and until O'Grady and Goodman improve vastly on offense, the Hawks will have to find other ways to score. Other teams are going to make the lack of an offensive minded 5 a real problem for the Hawks.

When Clark is having an off night, and neither Marshall or Martin are contributing on offense, it might have been worth a try to play Taylor McCabe--the sharp shooting guard from NE, at least a few minutes to see if she can provide a spark. Or get Kylie Feuerbach at least a few shots to see if either of them can generate the missing outside shooting.

Concur with Grady--we were outcoached at crunch time. Love Coach Bluder and the incredible team unity she and her staff have created, but late in the 4th qtr the Hawks on offense looked like a junior high team, with everyone standing and watching the best player trying to be the whole offense. (It is understandable that the unanimous POY is relied upon heavily--no question--but team play in the last three minutes just didn't exist.)

Last season included a loss to this same team, and last year's team did okay the rest of the way. :)
But with the Law Firm of Czinano and Clark dissolved, expect more nights where teams with top level 5's, and a defense that can stymy the national POY to occur, make getting the W problematic.

Hopefully the Hawks chalk this one up to experience, learn a lot from it, and bounce back. The Bulldogs come to town on Sunday, fresh off taking down the Clowns, and the Hawks pay a visit to those very same Clowns, with their own massive force at the 5, on 12/6.

Taylor McCabe is a sharpshooter for certain and should be used much more

Kylie Feuerbach is seriously underused, and she has a solid floor game

With more game experience they both will be an extremely needed factor

Nice Post
 
Martin and Marshall combined for 2 points last night.

It wasn't just them, but your sixth-year senior starters need to be better than that.
Yeah, but I don't think Gabby was on the floor much in the 2nd half...to the point I wondered if she was under the weather. She's strictly a 3-pt shooter, and if she's 'off' the only antidote is driving to the rim -- but if there is a rim protector waiting, and all the other outside options are covered, eliminating the drive and dish -- well, that was Iowa's night last night on offense. Gotta give KState a lot of credit.
 

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